Fabrication of Gold Nanoparticles Inside Unmodified Horse Spleen Apoferritin

Abstract

Size-constrained gold nanoparticles are successfully synthesized within the cavity of native horse spleen ferritin by using a two-step process relying on the initial formation of nanoclusters. The particles co-elute with the nanocage ferritin by chromatography, indicating that the particles are associated with intact protein cages. Further characterization reveals that the growth of the monodisperse particles is limited by the protein cage.